Collapsible chair.



No. 768,643. v PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904. W. F. 0. WEIDENBAUM. i

OOLLAPSIBLE CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, 1903. N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented August 30, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

COLLAPSIBLE CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,643, dated August 30, 1904. Application filed. November 30, 1903. Serial No. 183,265. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. C. WEIDEN- BAUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to collapsible chairs, and has for its primary object to produce a simple, strong, and easily-manipulated chair of this character which may be economically manufactured and may be folded very compactly when not in use, so as to occupy a minimum of storage-space.

To this end my invention consists in a novel foldable chair having the peculiarities of construction and operation, substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of a simple form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of aslightly-modified form of the invention. Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating a modification in the manner and means of supporting the chair-back. Fig. 4 is an enlarged face view of the chair shown in Fig. 2 in collapsed form, and Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates each of a pair of inclined main side frame members, the upper portions of which constitute the side supports for the back of the chair, while their lower portions constitute the forwardly-extending legs.

11 designates each of a pair of rearwardlyextending legs crossing and pivoted to the members 10 by pivot-bolts 12.

13 designates the seat, which is pivoted near its rear end by pivotbolts 14 to the side frame members 10 and, as shown in Fig.1, rests at its outer end directly upon the upper ends of the legs 11. The legs 11 are connected by a series of transversely-extending dowels or rounds 15 and 16.

17 designates each of a pair of link-braces which pivotally connect that portion of the legs 11 which is above the pivot-bolts 12 to the seat 13 at points in advance of the seatpivot 14, said braces being connected directly to the inner sides of the legs 11 by pivot-pins 18 and to the under side of the chair-seat by pivot-pins 19, which preferably are disposed transversely of slots 20, formed in the under side of said seat, to accommodate the upper ends of the links 17.

21 designates each of a pair of link-braces connected directly to the inner sides of the legs 11 below the pivot-bolts 12, as by pivotpins 22, and to the rear end of the side members of the seat-frame back of the pivots 14, as by pivot-pins 23.

24 designates the chair-back,which may be rigidly secured to and between the main side frame members 10, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or may be adjustably secured thereto, as shown in Fig. 3, hereinafter described.

The construction last described, employing a pair of tension-links 17 and 21 between the leg 11 and the seat on each side of the chair, one of said links being disposed forwardly and the other rearwardly of the pivots uniting the intersecting legs and the seat and side frame members, affords a simple and strong structure capable of supporting any. ordinary strains to which the chair may be subjected in use. Where increased rigidity and resistance to vertical strains is desirable, this may be secured by notching the under surface of the opposite side frame members of the seat 13 at points where they are engaged by the upper ends of the legs 11, such notches being shown at 13 in Figs. 2 and 4 and adapted to engage and seat the upper correspondingly-formed ends 11 of the legs 11,this construction rendering the seat 13 itself a tie or tension member between the upper ends of the pivoted intersecting legs of the under frame and to a considerable extent relieving the tension on the braces 17 and 21, thereby enabling the latter to be made lighter than in the construction shown in Fig. 1. Where this construction is employed,the forward braces 17 may be omitted, if desired, the rear braces 21 cooperating with the notched engagement of the legs 11 with the forward portion of the chair-seat, affording ample strength and rigidity to withstand the strains of ordinary usage.

Fig. 3 shows a construction identical as regards the seat and the parts therebeneath with the construction shown and described in connection with Fig. 1, but differs from the latter in the provision of a pivoted chair-back as, designed to provide for a more comfortable degree of inclination of the latter in service. The back 24 is pivotally suspended at its upper end between the side frame members'lO, as by laterally-projecting pivots 25 entering the latter, while its lower end is yieldingly connected on each side with said side frame members 10 by links in the form of flat hoops 26, engaging at their opposite ends, respectively, a laterally-projecting pin 27 in the side of the back and a similar pin 28 in the face of the member 10. Sucha construction enables the chair-back 24 to swing rearwardly to an extent permitted by the links 26, at the same time permitting said connected parts to be adjusted into longitudinal alinement within the width of the side frame members when the chair is collapsed, it being an important characteristic of the chair hereinabove described that its members are folded practically within the space comprehended between the main side frame members and between the planes of the front and rear edges of said members, as clearly indicated in Fig. 5.

I claim-- 1. In a foldable chair, the combination with a pair of side frame members the lower portions whereof constitute legs and the upper portions supports for the chair-back, of a pair of rearwardly-extending legs pivoted to and crossing the leg portions of said side frame members, a seat pivoted at its rear por tion to said side frame members and adapted to rest upon the upper ends of said rearwardlyextending legs, a pair of tension-links connecting one side of the seat directly with the rearwardly-extending legs on the same side of the chair, and a corresponding pair of tension-links connecting the other side of the seat directly with the rearwardly-extending leg on the same side of the chair, substantially as described.

2. In a foldable chair, the combination with a pair of side frame members the lower portions whereof constitute legs and the upper portions supports for the chair-back, of a pair of rearwardly-extending legs pivoted to and crossing the leg portions of said side frame members, a seat pivoted at its rear portion to said side frame members and adapted to rest upon the upper ends of said rearwardlyextending legs, and a pair oftension-links on each side of the chair-frame, one of said links pivotally connecting the seat forwardly of its pivot with the rearwardly-extending leg forwardly of the latters pivot, and the other link similarly connecting the seat rearwardly of its pivot with the said rearwardly-extending leg rearwardly of the latters pivot, sub- 'stantially as described.

3. In a foldable chair, the combination with a pair of side frame members the lower portions whereof constitute legs and the upper portions supports for the chair-back, of a pair of rearwardly-extending legs pivoted to and crossing the leg portions of said side frame members, a seat pivoted at its rear portion to said side frame members and provided on its under side with notches engaging the upper ends of said rearwardly-extending legs, and a pair of tension-links, one on each side of the chair-frame pivotally connecting the seat rearwardly of its pivot with the underlying rearwardly-extending leg rearwardly of the latters pivot, substantially as described. 4:. In a foldable chair, the combination with a pair of upwardly and rearwardly inclined side frame members constituting supports for the chair-back, of a chair-back pivoted at the upper portions of its side margins to said side frame members, outwardly-projecting pins on the lower portions of the side margins of said chair-back, inwardly-projecting pins on the inner faces of said side frame members, and links in the form of flat loops engaging and connecting said outwardly and inwardly projecting pins on each side of the chair, respectively, substantially as described.

WllilllAlll. F. C. \VElDENBAUlll. Witnesses:

SAMUEL N. Pom), FRED ERICK C. (1 OO'DWIN. 

